Searching for a spot to take a celebratory Afternoon Tea in Edinburgh, we eschewed the high ceilings and tartan of the Balmoral for being predictable and a little bit pompous. Other places looked lovely, velvety and plush, but a smidge out of our way and not quite interesting enough in their menu choices.
Then we found it. The words leap from the website like excited bubbles. “…with Summer Tea Punch – Hendrick’s gin, pressed lemon, pink grapefruit & summer berry organic tea syrup”
Don’t get me wrong- I’m aware the idea of drinking alongside one’s Afternoon Tea is by no means a new one. Most other establishments will offer you a Champagne Afternoon Tea for a *gulp* extra charge, and supply you with a spindly glass of something expensive and fizzy, but this sounded all the more interesting and, well, involves gin, which is never a bad thing.
At the base of a swish hotel, Tigerlily has turned a great expanse of restaurant space into a series of interconnected rooms; here businessmen are perching up at the bar reading papers, here friends are snuggled into a sofa nursing cocktails, and further in a few doe-eyed couples are gazing across at one another over late lunches. We sit with a view of the uncharacteristically sunny day and a string of cheerful waitresses look after our every need, which, admittedly, are not all that complex.
The Summer Tea involves more interesting fruity things than the classic. We have Mandarin tarts instead of Strawberry, Passionfruit Pavlova instead of lemon drizzle cake, and we even get a cheeky extra chocolate éclair for our trouble. Everything is, of course, both teeny and weeny, since we Ladies Who Lunch shouldn’t Overindulge, but the mini treats are surprisingly satisfying. Finger sandwiches at once dainty and filling, and the scones, a little bland by themselves, are coupled with some hearty local jam.
Mother isn’t always impressed by cupcakes, because they’re usually all icing, but these seemed to hit the spot. The balance of citrus and sweet is well negotiated, and this isn’t frilly icing that will blow off in a strong wind. Oh, no. If it were, it wouldn’t have lasted quite so long in Auld Reekie, and the subtle flavours would have been masked by sugar like they so often are elsewhere.
Now, to the important bit. The cocktail is a variation on a Tom Collins spruced up a little for the occasion. The inclusion of tea syrup in the recipe is complemented by its being served in a magnificent teapot, a lovely nod to the tradition of Afternoon Tea and the idea of daytime drinking on the sly. The teapot itself was branded- a Hendrick’s Gin signature which suggests this teapot, this beautiful piece of porcelain, is meant not for leaves nor hot water, but for Mr Hendrick and his closest friends.
So, we could have gone to the Balmoral, but we would have been flanked by tourists and not by locals- Tigerlily’s prime position on George Street means it’s a favourite with the upper band of Edinburgh’s office workers, and we would have paid a damn sight more. Summer Afternoon Tea with the fabulous Summer Fruit Punch is a steal at £17.95 per person, or £13.95 without Mr Hendrick’s input. But who among us would do such a thing?
Tigerlily is on George Street, Edinburgh. Pictured right is Afternoon Tea, complete with sandwiches, scones, cakes and gin cocktail. Mother not included.
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